rangers blackhawks 2015
Oh hockey, how we missed you.

The New York Rangers are in Chicago tonight to take on the always tough Blackhawks in a game that will pit Brad Richards against his former team for the first time since the Rangers bought him out this offseason. The Hawks are without Patrick Kane, but made a deal for Antoine Vermette at the deadline to help fill that hole. The Hawks also added Kimmo Timonen on the blue line to help for their playoff push.

Interestingly enough, the Rangers actually have a better record than the Hawks this season. Both teams have 85 points, but the Rangers have done it in two fewer games and have significantly more regulation/OT wins than the Hawks. The Rangers also hold the goal differential edge (+42 vs. +37), and that gets even wider if you don’t factor in the bonus goal for shootout wins.

The Hawks are good, but the Rangers have been better. That said, both teams are without one of their major stars. Let’s call that swap even.

What have they done lately?

The Hawks have been managing nicely without Kane, and are 6-3-1 in their last ten with wins in their last two straight. Chicago is a very dangerous team, but they haven’t been dominating puck possession lately like they normally have in the past. The Rangers, despite their early season struggles, have crept ahead of the Hawks in the possession game.

NYR in blue.

NYR in blue.

Despite the decline in their possession game, the Hawks have managed to win games. You would expect a rise in SPSV%/PDO, but in fact it’s the exact opposite. They’ve had a sharp decline over their past few weeks.

NYR in blue.

NYR in blue.

This decline is due to a drop in SH%, and the wins have come at the hands of bad teams or the Florida Panthers, so the schedule seems to be playing a role in the Hawks’ recent success.

The old adage is it’s not who you play it’s when you play them, and the Rangers may be catching the Hawks at a good time. They are dealing with some enough injuries that Dan Carcillo is playing on their third line. Of course, that means diddly. So what do I know?

Hawks Systems

Joel Quenneville is one of the best coaches in the game. His Hawks play an aggressive 2-1-2 forecheck, keeping the back forward and defensemen ready to jump on turnovers. In the defensive zone, the Hawks play a standard zone defense looking to defend you in layers based on puck location. On special teams, they run a 1-3-1 power play, and a wedge+1 penalty kill.

Hawks Lines

Kris Versteeg-Jonathan Toews-Marian Hossa
Teuvo Teravainen-Antoine Vermette-Brandon Saad
Patrick Sharp-Brad Richards-Dan Carcillo
Joakim Nordstrom-Marcus Kruger-Andrew Shaw

Kimmo Timonen-Brent Seabrook
Niklas Hjalmarsson-David Runblad
Duncan Keith-Michal Rozsival

PP1: Hossa, Toews, Shaw, Keith, Seabrook
PP2: Versteeg, Vermette, Richards, Sharp, Timonen

PK: Kruger, Saad, Toews, Hossa, Nordstrom, Shaw, Keith, Hjalmarsson, Seabrook, Rozsival

Corey Crawford gets the start.

Rangers Lines

Rick Nash-Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello
Chris Kreider
Derek StepanMartin St. Louis
Carl HagelinKevin HayesJ.T. Miller
James SheppardDominic MooreJesper Fast

Ryan McDonaghDan Girardi
Marc StaalKevin Klein
Keith YandleDan Boyle

PP1: McDonagh, Yandle, Kreider, Stepan, MSL
PP2: Boyle, Girardi, Nash, Brassard, Zuccarello

PK: Stepan, Nash, Girardi, Staal, Moore, Fast, Hunwick, Boyle, Hagelin, Klein, McDonagh, MSL

Cam Talbot is in net.

Scratches/Injuries: Henrik Lundqvist (throat), Tanner Glass (healthy), Matt Hunwick (healthy)

Crazy Prediction: Talbot gets the shutout.

Be sure to check out our ticket link if you’re looking for tickets to the game. Game time is 7:30pm on NBCSN

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